Jacob h



(No Model.)

J. H. BLEY. CLASP. No. 406,021. Patented July 2, 1889 fi ,g

INVENTOR. (1%? A TTOHNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 406,021, dated July 2, 1889.

Application filed October 22, 1888. Serial No. 288,862. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J ACOB H. BLEY, of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Clasp, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to clasps of that kind commonly used on suspenders, supporters, neekties, &c.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved clasp which is very simple and durable in construction, and can be easily opened and closed and securely locked in position.

The invention consists of two arms loosely connected with each other, and of a slide fitting over the said two arms and serving to open and close the latter and to lock the same in place.

The invention also consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, in a closed position, with the slide in section. Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of the same in an open position. Fig. i is a sectional plan View of the same 011 the line a x of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modified form of the improvement, and Fig. 6 is a like view of another modification with the slide in section.

The improved clasp A consists of three principal partsnamely, the arms B and C and a slide D fitted over the said two arms B and C.

The arm B is preferably straight, and is provided at one end with inwardly-bent teeth E, and at the other end of the said arm are formed flanges F, bent over the tape G supporting the clasp.

The arm 0 is provided at one end with inwardlyextending teeth 11, fitting into the teeth E of the arm 13. The opposite end of the said arm 0 is formed into an outwardlyextending incline I, adapted to close over the elongated ring, as is plainly shown in Fi 4,

and is provided at each end with a slight ex tension D, of which the operator takes hold to move the slide upward or downward on the arms B and 0.

Instead of connecting the arms 13 and C with each other at the end of the tape G, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, I may also hinge the arms B and O, as illustrated in Fig. 5. The hinge N is located at the inner end of the incline I and below the flanges F of the arm B. The arms B and C may also be connected ,with each other by a spring 0, (illustrated in Fig. 6,) said spring being secured by one end to the inside of the arm 13, near the flange F, and by its other end to the inside of the arm 0, near the teeth II.

The operation is as follows:

lVhen the slide D is in its lowermost position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the arms B and C are closed, and may engage with their teeth E and II the article to be grasped. The arms I5 and C are now in a closed position, and the slide D prevents their opening by fit ting closely over the said arms. The slide D is prevented from sliding off of the arms by the stops K and K Now, when the operator desires to open the clasp, he moves the slide I) upward, so that it passes over the incline I, which is thus moved toward the flanges F of the arm B, and consequently the lower part of the arm swings outward, thereby releasing the article grasped between the teeth E and ll. The upward movement of the slide D is limited by the stop K. It will be seen that as the two arnis are loosely connected with each other theconjunction of the incline I with the arm C forms the pivot-point when the slide D is moved upward or downward. IV hen the slide 1) is moved downward, the outwardly-extendin g arm 0 is moved inward toward the arm B by the said slide D, and the incline I again assumes its outermost position, as before described, and shownin Figs. 1 and 2. As the slide D fits snugly over the arms B and C, it remains in any position to which it is moved on the said arms by the operator, thereby locking the arms in either an open or a closed position.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a clasp, the combination, with a tape, of two arms secured on the said tapefof which one is provided with an incline, and a slide 

